Jump to content

Keraterpeton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Abyssal (talk | contribs) at 03:54, 18 July 2016 (added Category:Fossil taxa described in 1866 using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Keraterpeton
Temporal range: Late Carboniferous
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Subclass:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Keraterpeton

Etheridge, 1866
Species

Keraterpeton is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Carboniferous period of Europe and North America.

Restoration of Keraterpeton and other Permian amphibians by J. Smit

Keraterpeton was a salamander-like creature about 30 centimetres (12 in) long. Its tail was remarkably long taking up two thirds of the animal's total length, and was laterally flattened, presumably to aid in swimming. Its skull was round and short, especially when compared to its Permian relative, Diplocaulus. Its hind legs had five toes, and were longer than the forelimbs, which had only four toes.[1]

Although Keraterpeton had a long body, it did not have more vertebrae than most other amphibian species (15-26 on average).

References

  1. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 54. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.